Rowbase vs SmartDB MCP
A side-by-side look at the Rowbase and SmartDB MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Rowbase for databases work as a local process; choose SmartDB MCP for databases as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Rowbase when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Choose SmartDB MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: OAuth 2.0.
- You have the keys it needs:
DATABASE_CONFIG_FILE, CLIENT_ID, CLIENT_SECRET, ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTES, REFRESH_TOKEN_EXPIRE_DAYS, TOKEN_SECRET_KEY, OAUTH_USER_NAME, OAUTH_USER_PASSWORD. - You want tools like
execute_sql, get_db_health, get_table_desc.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Databases | Databases |
| Quality signal | 36/100 · Fair | 57/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | OAuth 2.0 |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | DATABASE_CONFIG_FILECLIENT_IDCLIENT_SECRETACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTESREFRESH_TOKEN_EXPIRE_DAYSTOKEN_SECRET_KEYOAUTH_USER_NAMEOAUTH_USER_PASSWORD |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 77 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 8 |
| Full listing | View Rowbase | View SmartDB MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Rowbase tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
SmartDB MCP tools 8
execute_sqlSQL execution tool that can execute ["SELECT", "SHOW", "DESCRIBE", "EXPLAIN", "INSERT", "UPDATE", "DELETE", "CREATE", "ALTER", "DROP", "TRUNCATE"] commands based on permission configurationget_db_healthAnalyzes database health status (connection status, transaction status, running status, lock detection) and outputs professional diagnostic reports and solutionsget_table_descSearches for table structures in the database based on table names, supports multi-table queriesget_table_indexSearches for table indexes in the database based on table names, supports multi-table queriesget_table_nameDatabase table name query tool. Used to query all table names in the database or search for corresponding table names based on Chinese table names or table descriptionsget_db_versionDatabase version query toolsql_creatorSQL query generation tool that generates corresponding SQL query statements based on different database typessql_optimizeA professional SQL performance optimization tool that provides expert optimization suggestions based on execution plans, table structure information, table data volume, and table indexes.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Rowbase
{
"mcpServers": {
"rowbase": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"--from",
"rowbase-db",
"rowbase"
]
}
}
}
SmartDB MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"wenb1n-dev-smartdb-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"SmartDB-MCP"
],
"env": {
"DATABASE_CONFIG_FILE": "YOUR_DATABASE_CONFIG_FILE_HERE",
"CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
"ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTES": "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTES_HERE",
"REFRESH_TOKEN_EXPIRE_DAYS": "YOUR_REFRESH_TOKEN_EXPIRE_DAYS_HERE",
"TOKEN_SECRET_KEY": "YOUR_TOKEN_SECRET_KEY_HERE",
"OAUTH_USER_NAME": "YOUR_OAUTH_USER_NAME_HERE",
"OAUTH_USER_PASSWORD": "YOUR_OAUTH_USER_PASSWORD_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Rowbase is categorized under Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. SmartDB MCP belongs to Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Rowbase for databases work and SmartDB MCP for databases.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Rowbase has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. SmartDB MCP is listed as free. Auth: oauth 2.0. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add rowbase and wenb1n-dev-smartdb-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Rowbase has a quality signal of 36/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. SmartDB MCP has 57/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 77 GitHub stars.